• Eibar's Sergio Enrich in action with Barcelona's Arthur - Eibar v FC Barcelona - Ipurua Municipal Stadium, Eibar, Spain. REUTERS
    Eibar's Sergio Enrich in action with Barcelona's Arthur - Eibar v FC Barcelona - Ipurua Municipal Stadium, Eibar, Spain. REUTERS
  • Barcelona's Lionel Messi, left, breaks away during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Eibar and FC Barcelona at the Ipurua stadium in Eibar, Spain. AP Photo
    Barcelona's Lionel Messi, left, breaks away during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Eibar and FC Barcelona at the Ipurua stadium in Eibar, Spain. AP Photo
  • Barcelona's French forward Antoine Griezmann (C) celebrates with Barcelona's Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez and Barcelona's Dutch midfielder Frenkie De Jong after scoring during the Spanish league football match SD Eibar against FC Barcelona at the Ipurua stadium in Eibar. AFP
    Barcelona's French forward Antoine Griezmann (C) celebrates with Barcelona's Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez and Barcelona's Dutch midfielder Frenkie De Jong after scoring during the Spanish league football match SD Eibar against FC Barcelona at the Ipurua stadium in Eibar. AFP
  • Barcelona's Lionel Messi, centre left, tries to get though the Eibar defence during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Eibar and FC Barcelona at the Ipurua stadium in Eibar, Spain. AP Photo
    Barcelona's Lionel Messi, centre left, tries to get though the Eibar defence during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Eibar and FC Barcelona at the Ipurua stadium in Eibar, Spain. AP Photo
  • FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi (L) vies for the ball with SD Eibar's Jose Angel (R) during the Spanish LaLiga soccer match between SD Eibar and FC Barcelona played at Ipurua stadium, in Eibar, northern Spain. EPA
    FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi (L) vies for the ball with SD Eibar's Jose Angel (R) during the Spanish LaLiga soccer match between SD Eibar and FC Barcelona played at Ipurua stadium, in Eibar, northern Spain. EPA
  • Barcelona's Luis Suarez tries to beat Eibar's goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Eibar and FC Barcelona at the Ipurua stadium in Eibar, Spain. AP Photo
    Barcelona's Luis Suarez tries to beat Eibar's goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Eibar and FC Barcelona at the Ipurua stadium in Eibar, Spain. AP Photo
  • Antoine Griezmann of FC Barcelona in action during the Liga match between SD Eibar SAD and FC Barcelona at Ipurua Municipal Stadium in Eibar, Spain. Getty Images
    Antoine Griezmann of FC Barcelona in action during the Liga match between SD Eibar SAD and FC Barcelona at Ipurua Municipal Stadium in Eibar, Spain. Getty Images
  • FC Barcelona's French defender Samuel Umtiti (up) vies for the ball with SD Eibar's striker Sergi Enrich (down) during the Spanish LaLiga soccer match between SD Eibar and FC Barcelona played at Ipurua stadium, in Eibar, northern Spain. EPA
    FC Barcelona's French defender Samuel Umtiti (up) vies for the ball with SD Eibar's striker Sergi Enrich (down) during the Spanish LaLiga soccer match between SD Eibar and FC Barcelona played at Ipurua stadium, in Eibar, northern Spain. EPA
  • Eibar's Sergio Enrich in action with Barcelona's Arthur- Eibar v FC Barcelona - Ipurua Municipal Stadium, Eibar, Spain. REUTERS
    Eibar's Sergio Enrich in action with Barcelona's Arthur- Eibar v FC Barcelona - Ipurua Municipal Stadium, Eibar, Spain. REUTERS

Lionel Messi on target as Barcelona beat Eibar to move top of La Liga - in pictures


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Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde said it was only a matter of time before Lionel Messi, Antoine Griezmann, and Luis Suarez would click after all three forwards scored in the 3-0 La Liga win at Eibar on Saturday.

Griezmann put Barca ahead in the 13th minute after a route-one move from his side as Clement Lenglet launched the ball from the heart of the defence down field to release the France forward, who calmly slotted inside the near post.

The three forwards all combined for the next two goals in a sign that the trio are finally gelling after a stop-start season interrupted by injuries to Messi and Suarez.

Suarez brought the ball into the area for Griezmann to slide it across for Messi to score in the 58th minute.

Griezmann was the architect of the third goal, rolling the ball from deep into the path of Messi, who then squared for Suarez to tap into an empty net in the 66th and round off Barca's fifth consecutive victory in all competitions.

Valverde welcomed the performances of his three forwards, saying it was inevitable they would start dovetailing sooner or later.

"It's a question of time and games. In the end, the top players always end up playing well together and learn how they need to play to get the best out of each other," he told reporters.

"They participated a lot and worked very well together and today we got what we deserved."

Barca have 10 days until their next league game at home to Real Valladolid after next Saturday's clash with Real Madrid was postponed over security concerns due to widespread violence across Catalonia following the jailing of separatist leaders.

"These three points are very valuable as after an international break it's difficult to play well because everyone is tired from their trips but we played very well," Griezmann said.

"We knew that they would press us high up the pitch so I told Clement if he saw down the wing to play me in, and he did that. We created a lot of chances from long passes today."

Barca were without influential defender Gerard Pique due to suspension but France defender Samuel Umtiti gave a towering performance in his first start of the season after a series of knee problems.

"This was the best game we have played away from home both for the result and the performance," Lenglet said.

"Eibar barely had any chances but we created a lot. It was a very complete performance from us from start to finish."